FASTING
Literally: eating no food and drinking no liquid (not even water) for one whole day or for some duration.
In Islam, every Muslim must observe fast for full month of Ramzaan (30 days), Judaism prescribes 40 fasts a year for every Jew.
Hindus (especially women) have an obligation to observe fast on Ekaadashi, Karva Chauth, Navratras, all Tuesdays and several other days as a part of their religious rituals.
In Sikhism, there is no significance of any formal fasting; and, in Sikhism, fasting as a means of spiritual achievement is regarded as hypocrisy.
Sikhism does not prohibit fasting for maintaining good health.
But as a ritual, it is forbidden.
Gurbaani considers fasting as hypocrisy:
Leaving food (keeping fast) is pretentious,
Neither is she (i.e. such a woman) a ‘happy wife’ nor a widow.
Being without food does not mean good time.
Forsaking food does not lead to union with God.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.873)
&
Penancing wears off body.
With the heat of fasting mind remains not in peace.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.905)
MARAN VRAT (Fast unto death):
Some Sikh politicians had, from time to time, used “fast unto death” as a weapon for attainment of some political goal. Such ventures are in contradiction with the Sikh philosophy. The first “fast unto death” was observed by Sampuran Singh Raman in 1953, to be followed by Fateh Singh in December 1960, Master Tara Singh in August 1961, Fateh Singh again in 1965 and 1966, and, Darshan Singh Pheruman in 1969. Fateh Singh underwent his last ‘fast unto death’ in 1971. With the exception of Darshan Singh Pheruman none of the above kept one’s vow and broke his fast on one or another pretext.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)